Convertible article of clothing

ABSTRACT

An article of clothing that may be converted from a vest, to a jacket, to a hooded jacket, to overalls, to a parka or to various types of clothing in between.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to Korean patent Application No. 2000-071982 filed Nov. 21, 2000, titled Vest Type Raincoat.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to an article of clothing and, in particular, a vest that can be converted into a jacket, a hooded jacket, an overall, a parka or other types of clothing in between.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The idea of converting an article of clothing into a bag or backpack for easy storing is well known (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,831 to Rudolph et al.). However, the article of clothing is almost always converted into a form that assists in carrying the article of clothing and does not necessarily allow the user to wear the converted article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention discloses an article of clothing that may be converted into several different garments depending on the wearer's choice. In its most basic configuration the article of clothing is a vest, but when necessary, a hood, sleeves and pant legs may be pulled out to form an overall or parka. In its fully converted state, the vest turns into a pair of hooded overalls.

[0005] If the subject invention is made of rain repellant material, the present invention can be used as a full body rain suit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0007] In the drawings:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a vest-like article of clothing in accordance with the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the inside of the vest illustrated in FIG. 1 with the front sides open;

[0010] FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate the use of arm coverings in connection with the vest of FIG. 1;

[0011] FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate the use of a hood in connection with the vest of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate the use of leg coverings in connection with the vest of FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 6A is a see-through view of the interior of the vest illustrating the positioning of the leg coverings in accordance with the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 6B is a cut away view of the vest showing the positioning of the leg coverings inside the vest;

[0015] FIGS. 7A-7C are see-through views of the vest illustrating the refolding of the arm coverings into the vest; and

[0016] FIGS. 8A-8C illustrating the refolding of the leg coverings into the vest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention, specific terminology will be selected for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

[0018] The term “inside” and “outside” refer to general position inside or outside of the convertible article of clothing.

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the convertible article of clothing in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated at 10.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, the subject invention is a convertible article of clothing. In its base form the article 10 is a vest. However, within the vest is concealed a pair of sleeves or arm coverings, a hood, and leg coverings. By pulling out the arms, the legs and the hood, the vest converts into a hooded overall or parka.

[0021] The vest includes a number of different-sized pockets. On the outside front of the vest, over the left and right chest, are a pair of small pockets 30, 31. A flap 38, 39 for each pocket covers the respective pocket opening. In a preferred embodiment, the flaps 38, 39 may be closed using mating Velcro fasteners.

[0022] Below the chest pockets 30, 31 are a pair of side pockets 40, 41. In the preferred embodiment the side pockets are large enough so that the wearer may insert his or her hand. The side pockets may be closed with a zipper 48, 49 as illustrated in FIG. 1 or any other suitable means (e.g., with Velcro).

[0023] Each of the side pockets may be designed to conceal a slash pocket 42, 43. The slash pockets 42, 43 are preferably large enough to accommodate the wearer's hand.

[0024] A draw cord 50 is illustrated at the bottom of the vest. The draw cord 50 can be pulled and tightened to reduce the amount of air that can be blown up inside the vest.

[0025] In its basic configuration (i.e., a vest), the present article of clothing includes a stand-up collar 1. The stand-up collar 1 conceals a hood and will be described in further detail hereinafter.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vest may be closed down its front with a zipper 32, a plurality of velcro patches 33, or both. This provides the wearer with a number of options on how to wear the article of clothing depending on the desires of the wearer.

[0027] The vest is constructed of an outer shell 2 with an inner lining 3. The right chest portion of the vest is designated by 44 and the left chest portion of the vest is designated by 45.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 2, the inside of the vest is illustrated. The vest is made of a two-ply construction; that is one ply or sheet forms the outer shell 2 and a second ply forms the inner lining 3. The two plies may be made of the same or different materials. The inner lining 3 is permanently sealed to the outer shell 2 along substantially the entire perimeter or edges 99. This provides an open area between the shell and the lining wherein the sleeves and pants or leggings can be stored.

[0029] When worn as a vest, the wearer inserts his or her right arm through opening 20 and his or her left arm through opening 21. The inner shell 3 is not sealed to the outer shell 2 proximate the arm openings. This permits the wearer to store or remove right sleeve or right arm covering 22 and left sleeve or left arm covering 23 between the inner lining 3 and the outer shell 2. A separate compartment for each sleeve may be sewn into the vest between the shell and the lining to store the sleeves; otherwise, the sleeves may lay between the shell 2 and the lining 3. When the wearer desires to have a vest, the sleeves are stored; if the wearer desires to have a jacket, the sleeves are removed.

[0030] The sleeves 22, 23 are permanently attached to the vest only around a portion of the shoulder area and usually proximate the arm pit; this allows the sleeves to be folded or manipulated into a chamber between the respective chest portions 44, 45 of the vest. (By attaching the sleeves, it also prevents the sleeves from being lost or separated from the vest.) The sleeve chamber may be better illustrated in the see-through drawings of FIGS. 7A-7C.

[0031] As illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3D, the sleeves may be removed while the vest is being worn. However, it may be easier to remove the arm coverings when the vest is not being worn. Once the sleeves have been removed from the interior chamber of the article 10, a sleeve zipper 66 is used to fully connect the arm coverings to the article 10, thereby converting the vest into a jacket.

[0032] Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, another storage area is formed within the stand-up collar 1. The top of the inner lining of the collar is attached to the top of the outer shell of the collar; however the base of the outer shell of the collar is not attached to the base of the inner lining, thereby forming a hood pocket between the inner and outer collar. The hood pocket is large enough to store a hood 33.

[0033] The wearer may unravel the hood and use it to cover his or her head. The hood 33 may be designed to include a draw string to restrict entry of air between the wearer's head and the hood. The hood 33 may be folded and returned to its chamber when desired.

[0034] The subject invention may also be converted into overalls by uncovering the concealed leg coverings 7 as illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5C. An operable closure means, for example, zipper 85, at the base of the vest is used to close the compartment that stores the pants 7.

[0035] A see-through view of the back of the vest is illustrated in FIG. 6A. When not in use, the pants 7 are stored in compartment 5 between the outer shell 2 and the inner lining 3 of the vest. The right leg 15 extends up the back of the vest, over the right shoulder 13 and at least partially down the front of the vest as illustrated in the cut away view of FIG. 6B. Similarly, the left leg 26, extends up the back of the vest within compartment 5 between the shell and the lining, and over the left shoulder of the vest. Another view of the pants 7 in their stored condition is illustrated in the see-through drawings of FIGS. 8A-8C.

[0036] A second pant zipper 86, attached to the back waist of the pants 7, will secure the pants to the vest. This second pant zipper 86 ensures that the pants will not “ball up” inside the compartment 5, making the vest uncomfortable for the wearer.

[0037] Referring again to FIG. 2, one embodiment of the present article 10 may employ an inner flap 14 that permits access to an inner compartment 5. The leg coverings 7, as described previously, are stored in this inner compartment 5. Mating velcro strips 71, 72 may be used to secure the inner flap 14. Although not necessary in the basic embodiment, the inner flap will allow the user to more easily manipulate the legs when removing or storing the pants 7. This will help in evenly distributing the weight of the pants throughout the entire vest.

[0038] At the bottom of each leg section, proximate the foot openings, an elastic cuff may be placed to reduce the amount of air that may enter through each foot opening. Alternatively, an elastic draw cord or a regular draw cord may be used to reduce the entry of air.

[0039] A vent may be placed in the back of the vest portion of the garment to allow air circulation within compartment 5. This should reduce the occurrence of mold or a stale smell forming on the pants 7 or within the compartment 5. A lateral flap would preferably overlap the vent to prevent any of the elements (i.e, rain, wind, snow, etc.) from entering the vest-like garment.

[0040] The operation of the convertible article 10 will now be described.

[0041] In order to access the sleeves, the wearer must first open the velcro closure, if one is present. Referring again to FIGS. 3A-3D, the wearer may insert his or her hand into the sleeve compartment and pull out the first sleeve or have a friend pull out the sleeve. The same process is used to retrieve the second sleeve. Only a portion of the sleeve's shoulder is attached to the vest-like garment, thereby allowing the sleeve to be folded within the vest. When the sleeves have been removed from the interior of the vest, a sleeve zipper 66 for each sleeve is exposed. The zipper is then zipped up, fully attaching the sleeve to the vest-like garment thereby converting the vest into a jacket. The article of clothing may now be used as a jacket, windbreaker, coat, etc.

[0042] In order to store the sleeves, the shoulder zippers are unzipped first. The wearer may then guide the sleeves back into their respective compartments.

[0043] Referring again to FIGS. 5A-5C, to use the pants 7, first pant zipper 85 must be unzipped, thereby allowing access to the inner compartment 5. The pants may then be removed from the compartment. Second pant zipper 86, which is used to secure the pants to the vest may now be unzipped, thereby separating the pants from the vest. The wearer may now put on the pants like any normal pair. In one embodiment, the second pant zipper 86 may be designed to stay zipped or to be re-zipped after the wearer has put the pants on. This ensures that the article remains a unitary garment.

[0044] The subject article of clothing may be converted into a vest, a jacket, a hooded jacket, an overall, a parka, etc. depending on the weather and the comfort/desires of the wearer. The subject invention is ideal for use by campers, sports fans, construction workers and others who spend extended periods of time out side. The convertible article of clothing provides the wearer with a number of options depending on the weather.

[0045] In wet regions, the subject invention can be constructed of weather-resistant materials. In order to make the garment rainproof, the outer shell 2 is preferably made of treated plastic (e.g., nylon) or some other water-resistant material (e.g., Gore-tex®). In this manner, the subject article 10 may be used as a raincoat.

[0046] The inner lining 3 is permanently sealed to the outer shell 2 along substantially the entire perimeter or edges 99. If the garment is intended for moderate climates, the inner lining 3 may be made of nylon. If both the outer shell and the inner lining are made of nylon, the article will be similar to a windbreaker. In colder regions, the inner lining may be made of heavier or more insulative materials, such as wool.

[0047] It should be noted that the subject article is fully and independently convertible. That is the vest/hood combination may be used with or without the sleeves; the vest/hood may be used with or without the pants 7; the vest/sleeves combination may be used with or without the hood; the vest/sleeves may be used with or without the pants, the vest/pants may be used with or without the hood; the vest/pants may be used with or without the sleeves; the vest/sleeves/hood combination may be used with or without the pants; etc.

[0048] Although this invention has been described and illustrated by reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made which clearly fall within the scope of this invention. The present invention is intended to be protected broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What I claim is:
 1. An article of clothing that can convert from a vest worn over a wearer's upper torso to a jacket, to an overall and to a parka, the article comprising: a vest-like garment designed to be worn over the upper torso of a user, said garment having: a) a hood attached to said garment and a corresponding pocket for storing said hood when desired; b) a pair of arm coverings attached to said garment and a corresponding pair of chambers for storing each of said arm coverings when desired; and c) leg coverings releasably attached to said garment and a compartment within said garment for storing said leg coverings when desired.
 2. The article of claim 1 further comprising a zipper for opening and closing said compartment for storing the leg coverings.
 3. The article of claim 2 further comprising a second zipper for closing the front of the garment for enclosing the user's upper torso.
 4. The article of claim 1 further comprising at least one pocket on the outside of said garment for storing items desired by the user.
 5. The article of claim 1 further comprising an access slot inside the garment for assisting in the placement of the leg coverings over the shoulders of the garment when the leg coverings are stored.
 6. The article of claim 1 wherein each of said arm coverings includes a zipper to fully enclose the upper arm of the wearer.
 7. The article of claim 1 further comprising a draw cord at the base of the garment
 8. The article of claim 1 further comprising an elastic waist attached to the top of the leg coverings and a draw string attached proximate to the top of the leg coverings that allows the leg coverings to be adjusted to the size of the wearer.
 9. An article of clothing comprising: an outer shell; an inner lining attached to said outer shell along their respective perimeters thereby forming at least one storage compartment between said outer shell and said inner lining, said outer shell and inner lining shaped into a vest; a pair of sleeves attached to the vest and that may be stored within said storage compartment, said sleeves may be selectively unwrapped to convert the vest into a jacket; a hood attached to the vest and that may be stored within said storage compartment, said hood may be selectively unwrapped to convert the vest into a hooded vest; a pair of leggings attached to the vest and that may be stored within said storage compartment, said pair of leggings may be selectively unwrapped to convert the vest into overalls; wherein when the sleeves, hood and leggings are all unwrapped the vest is converted into a full-body parka. 